Q& A: Michael Essien loves Jose

The ex- Chelsea star has moved into coaching at Danish side Nordsjælland, after a successful playing career followed an early rejection at... Burnley?!

So, you joined Nordsjælland as an assistant coach last summer...

I’ve been learning from friends and doing my badges, and the team has been growing. The people have taken to me and been very supportive and encouraging, which is vital during this COVID period. There were chances to go and do it in mainland Europe, but I chose Nordsjælland. It’s been the best place for me to get the practice and attention to detail that I need.

How have you been coping with life since the pandemic began?

I’ve been doing all right. Obviously it’s so mentally draining, having to keep away from a lot of things that made living beautiful – things like hugging colleagues, handshakes and even the close spaces we share with people on the pitch. It’s all just gone away, but I’m trying. Denmark has been quite OK, and I’m living every day hoping the sun will shine again for us all soon.

Do you keep in touch with Chelsea?

Yes, I do. I still own a house around Cobham, so I go in there to work out when I’m in London. I speak to some of the workers in the building and it hasn’t changed that much, as a lot of the same guys have worked there all their lives. It’s always nice to see them and have a catch- up. Sadly, COVID has meant that it’s not as often as it used to be, but I still keep in touch with my Chelsea people.

Were you surprised that your old mate Frank Lampard was sacked?

I suppose I’ve been in football long enough to know that the name of the game is results. Frank was aware of it, and we’ve always known that Roman Abramovich was brutal when it came to Chelsea. To be honest, I think Frank did a good job. I’ve shared some of the best moments in my career with him, and I’ll say that he won’t be let down by his sacking - he knows he’s got it within him to work his way back there. Frank uses these setbacks as stepping stones. He was born for the big stage, so trust me when I say that he’ll dust himself down. It won’t be long before you see him working with the greatest clubs and players in the world again.

Are you still close with Jose, too?

Jose Mourinho and I first met through football, but he’ll always mean a lot more to me than football ever will. I’ve got to know him in the same way that a father knows his son, so he’s special to me and always will be in the deepest part of my heart. He taught me a lot of good things about life, and also being a better man. Most people will never get to know him that way, but speak to any of the guys who were with him when he first moved to Chelsea, and you’ll hear the massive role he played in our overall development. He followed me all the way to my hometown [ in Accra] just to see where I grew up, in his desire to understand me. Normally, coaches only care about results, but Jose cared about how we managed our resources, how we saw life and what football gave us. But I wish he hadn’t joined Spurs – they’re our rivals!

Just how close were you to joining Manchester United before Chelsea?

Extremely close. My agent preferred me to play under Alex Ferguson, but he was talking to PSG, Real Madrid and Chelsea, too. What tilted me towards Stamford Bridge was Didier Drogba – he was close to Florent Malouda and

I was close to Malouda at Lyon. One day, we were at a party at Malouda’s house, Drogba called, and during their conversation he mentioned that Jose was always talking about me. Malouda passed the phone to me and Drogba spoke about London, Chelsea and the big family feel that the club had. From that moment, I really wanted to join.

How did you feel when Chelsea won the Champions League in 2012?

That night in Munich was one of the best of my life, and I say that knowing I didn’t get onto the pitch as a sub! But I was involved in everything the team did. My brother John Obi Mikel was playing, and we often spoke as a group about how much we’d always wanted to win the Champions League. That season, the [ last 16] second leg at home to Napoli was something else. Many great players had been involved in the journey and some had left, so to finally be there in Munich and see the dream of many people come alive is something that will never be topped.

What was it like to join Real Madrid on loan the following season?

Such a privilege. Playing with Cristiano Ronaldo – training, seeing him happy, seeing him upset – was the stuff that dreams are made of. Working under Mourinho again in a different setting was amazing, and there were other classy professionals like Sergio Ramos, Mesut Ozil and Xabi Alonso. We didn’t win a trophy that season, but it was a special period to wear the famous white of a fantastic team like Madrid.

Is it true you once trialled at Burnley when they were a third- tier club?

Yes! I had a lot of trials – some you’ll never know about. [ Laughs] I think it was after the U17 World Championship in 1999. I did well and had the chance to join a number of clubs, but then got turned down by them all! That wasn’t nice for a desperate young man who just wanted to put food on the table. With Burnley, I think it was an issue of wage structure, work visas and stuff. I left feeling pretty disappointed, but then Bastia happened, then Lyon and Chelsea. So it wasn’t all bad, was it?!